Casl d



Patented Feb. M, was.

CARL D. PRATT, 0F TAMAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO- ATLAS POWDER COM- I'AINY, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION DELAWARE.

GELATIN DYNAMITE.

No Drawing.

My invention relates, in general, to improvements in the explosive properties of gelatin dynamites and more particularly to covered, combustible, carbonaceous ingredient for high explosive compositions.

The so-called gelatin dynamite types are chiefly distinguished from other types of dynamites in that they contain one or more ingredients, which are at least partially soluble in and increase the viscosity of the liquid explosive ingredients. These gelatinizing materials, such as. for example, nitrocotton, are used in sufiicient quantities to efiect the congealing or substantial increase in the viscosity of the liquid explosive ingredients, such, for example, as nitroglycerine, glycol dinitrate, liquid TNT or DNT and the like, to such an extent as to form a very cohesive and plastic mass.

The gelatin dynamite type of explosive composition has several advantages over other types for many blasting demands. The relatively high density of the gelatin dynamites permits greater amounts (weights) of them to be loaded into a given space, such as, for example, a chambered bore hole,

resulting in more brisant eilects, as Well as economy in preparing the chambered spaces to receive it. Its cohesiveness and plasticity also permit its being forced more completely into said spaces, so as to entirely fill them. Their compactness and cohesiveness also cause the gelatin dyna-mites to have relatively high degrees of water resistance, permitting their use for submarine and other blasting where water is encountered. Their cohesiveness also ofiers advantages for secondary blasting, where only small portions of cartridges are used. in that the pieces of the cut cartridges will remain intact under handling.

It has been an inherent fault of gelatin dynamites, however, that their explosive properties tend to deteriorate, on age, faster Application filed March 25, 1927. Serial No. 178,506.

than the other types of dynamite. By explosive properties are meant: first, propagaion sensitiveness or the ability of the explosive to carry the wave of detonation by its own influence, such as across air gaps or through continuous trains of the explosive; second, the velocity or speed of detonation; and third. the ability to detonate completely under ordinary confinement, so as to give maximum strength effects and incidentally, a minimum generation of actively poisonous gases.

The comparatively fast deterioration of these gelatin dynamites, with respect to their explosive properties, is mostly accompanied on the one hand by exudation of the liquid high explosive employed, or, on the other hand, by an excessive loss of plasticity and moistness. according to the degree of exactness with which the gelatin dynamite has been balanced as to absorption and degree of gelatinization of its liquid content.

The character and properties of the combustible ingredients accordingly play a most important part in influencing both the physical and explosive properties of the gelatin dynamites. both fresh and after storage. Some of the best known combustible materials. used heretofore as gelatin dynamite ingredients, are wood-pulp, Wood-sawdust. grain flours, starches, sulphur, corn meal and vegetable ivory meal. Wood pulp and sawdust are employed to absorb the excess liquids, left over from the gelatinization, in order to prevent leakage; whereas the other materials, illustrated above, are used to make the gelatin dynamites sufficiently dense and to balance the degree of absorption to the as to packing density.

Since the dried beet pulp is, as stated, a relatively poor absorbent, the nitroglycerine, or other liquid sensitizer tends to coat the particles of the same rather than to be provements not only in the initial but also soaked up or absorbed thereby, and it is largely this characteristic of the beet pulp that causes the dynamite containing the same to retain its sensitiveness over such long periods of time.

Because of these advantageous characteristics, it is possible not only to improve the initial explosive properties of gelatin dynamites, into which dried beet pulp is introduced as an ingredient, but also enables the gelatin dynamites to retain these improved properties for much greater lengths of time than usual. In fact, I have found that it is possible to actually decrease the packing density of gelatin dynamites, to some extent, by using dried beet pulp as an ingredient and still obtain considerable imin the maintained explosive properties of these explosives, without objectionable losses in plasticity or moistness.

The dried beet pulp that I prefer to use is that that remains of the sugar beet after the commercial extraction of its sugar content. The beet pulp is then thoroughly dried and" cut, broken or ground to the desired fineness for use in explosives. The fineness that I prefer to use is a material that passes a standard screen, running 30 meshes or openings to the inch.

It should be understood, however, that the use of ground or comminuted dried beets of any sort would fall within the scope of myinvention, provided that they be produced in a suitable form for use in explosive compositions. The extraction of the sugar from the beet is not necessary, therefore, in the application of my invention, since the sugar content of the beet would actually tend to contribute beneficial properties to the explosive in which such unextracted beet pulp is used. My preference for the extracted sugar beet pulp is accordingly based on its economic possibilities, in view of its being produced as a by-product of beet sugar manufacture. I a

I may also increase or decrease the fineness of the dried beetpulp, in order to control certain properties of a gelatin dynamite, such as for example, its density" or velocity ofdetonat-ion, and still be within the scope of my invention. In fact, I may vary the size of the particles of dried pulp as well as the amounts used in the various explosive compositions over a very wide.

range, depending on the grade'and type of the various gelatin dynamites involved, and the nature of the improvement or improve-- ments desired. For example, I may wish to improve the sensitiveness and keeping in velocity of detonation.

' Illustrative examples of gelatin dynamite compositions, contaming driedv beet pulp,

are shown as follows.;

. Per cent.

Liquid explosive 28. 0 Solid explosive 2. 0 Nitrocotton i 6 Nitrate of soda 55. 0 Nitrate of ammonia Wood pulp 1.0

Starch 4. 0

Dried beet pulp 4.4, Sulphur 4. 0 Ant-acid 1. 0 6

It is to be understood that the dried beet pulp may be substituted for all or part of one or more combustible ingredients in the gelatinous explosive compositions and that it may be used either alone or in conjunction with other combustible materials, without departing from my invention and that the amount of the beet pulp employed may be varied at will, since I contemplate using up to fifteen percent of the same. It is also understood that the invention covers the use of dried beet pulp in conjunction with various types of liquid explosive materials. As examples of liquid explosives. that may Per cent.

OO DOD NJ team be employed in the foregoing formula, I

mines, in ways well known to those skilled in the art.

My preferred composition includes nitroglycerine, as the liquid explosive, nitrocot ton and" dried beet pulp, or all of the other ingredients named.

I claim:

dried'beet pulp,

1. A dynamite-containing as a combustible ingredient.

2. A gelatin dynamite containing dried beet pulp as a combustible ingredient.

3. A gelatinous explosive composition containing a liquid explosive ingredient and dried beet pulp as a combustible ingredient.

4. A gelatinous explosive composition contaming from one half of one percent to togetherwith any i the following ingredients combined in substantially the proportions stated:

Per cent. Per cent. Liquid explosive 28.0 32.0 Solid explosive 2.0 2.0 Nitrocotton 6 8 Nitrate of soda 55.0 46.0 Nitrate of ammonia 9.0 \Vood pulp 1. 0 3.0 Starch 4.0 Dried beet pulp 4.4 4. 6 Sulphur g 4. 0 2. 0 Ant-acid 1.0 .6

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signsture.

CARL D. PRATT. 

